Folding spring-cot



(No Model.)

M.- B. CHURCH.

FOLDING SPRING GOT.

Patented June 13, 1882'.

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UNITED STATES MELVIN B. CHURCH, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING SPRING-COT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed October 10, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MELVIN B. CHURCH, of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Beds; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention is an improved folding bed, designed to be used as a cot, but also applicable for use as a folding bed in railway-cars, steamboats, or in any other like situation when a folding bed is required.

The objects of my said invention are to secure, first, cheapness of construction; second, economy of space third, strength and'dura bility; fourth, ease and comfort for the user without the interposition of mattresses or any such appliances. 1

Hereinafter I have described one method of carrying out my invention, and have illustrated this mode in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 represents a like view of the bed in a closed position. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the bed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modification.

In these drawings, A A represent the side pieces of the main body of the bed. They are made preferably of ordinary boards, about one inch in thickness and from four to six inches in width or depth, according to the material used. Pine, hemlock, or bass-wood may be used, the latter being excellentfor the purpose. The ends are connected by hinged transverse pieces a a, made of the same material and of the same thickness and depth. As shown in Fig. 1, these pieces are divided in the middle and hinged together by a hinge of ordinary construction, countersunk on the outside, as shown at b. The ends are also hinged to the sides close to the ends, so that the outside of the end pieces and the ends of the sides shall be flush, by means of hinges placed at the corners, on the inside. This construction, when the ends are extended as shown in Fig. 1, presents the form of a rectangular box without top or bottom. It may be folded or collapsed by merely pressing the ends inwardly, when this frame-work will assume the form shown in Patent No. 259,487, dated June 13, 1882,

Renewed May 9, 1882. (No model.)

Fig. 2. On this frame I place a covering of ordinary strong cotton cloth or other equivalent fabric or material, which covering constitutes the bottom of the bed. This is fixed to the sides, in the manner shown in Fig. 3, by tacking the cloth to the outside upper edge of the side pieces, A. It will be understood that the frame is made of such dimensions and titted to the cloth so that when the cloth has been secured thereto and the frame extended the cloth shall be tightly stretched. The cloth may be also secured to the ends after extending it in the same manner as to the sides; but it is not absolutely necessary. When so secured and stretched on the extended frame the weight of the person lying upon the cot or bed brings a torsional strain upon the sides and causes them to act as a torsion-spring. As the ends of the side pieces are held securely by means of the end pieces, the torsional elasticity of these side pieces is greatest in the middle, where the greater weightof the body is placed, and the strength of the material is the greatest that can be obtained from the amount of it used. The board being placed with its sides in vertical plane gives the most positive re sistance to vertical strain.

As the material used need not, for a single bed, (which is the kind anticipated,) be more than one inch in thickness, and the hinges may be countersunk, it will be apparent that the bed when collapsed will not occupy more than five inches in lateral dimensions and six inches in depth. Its length is that of ordinary cot-beds of this class. It will therefore be apparent that it may be folded and stowed in very small compass and without difficulty.

For ordinary use as a cot-bed I have pro vided ordinary legs (I d. These may be made of ordinary board or plank, with shoulders slightly beveled or dovetailed and made to fit between beveled cleats e e on the sides of the frame. When the bed is folded by collapsing the frame the end pieces will occupy the space next the end, leaving the interior space clear for the reception of the legs. Thus the whole apparatus may be included in the exterior dimensions of the folded bed.

Instead of the equally-divided end pieces, I

and a tenou at the upper end, the tenon being may have entire end pieces, each hinged to the side pieces only at one end, one on one side and the other on the opposite side. The free ends may be held in place when the frame of the bed or cot is extended by means of hooks, hasps, or catches. If necessary, the end pieces shown in Fig. 1 may be provided with hooks at the central joint; but the joint may be so made that the central hinge, when the frame is extended, shall be outside a line drawn from the end hin ges, thus lockin g the pieces in place, so that the weight of the person occupying the bed shall tend to hold it the more securely against collapse; or the end pieces may not bejointed or hinged at all, but may have suitable sockets and catches, so that one end may he slipped into place and the other pressed toward its seat, thus distending the frame, the essential feature being that the cloth or other covering is fastened to the edge of the side board and the boards kept apart by end pieces, so that the side pieces act with the flexible cloth supports as torsion-springs, while at the same time they support the weight.

If, after considerable use, the sides should become permanently twisted, the cloth may be removed and the frame turned upside down and the cloth tacked to the other side, which would restore the pieces to their proper form. For this purpose the cleats which hold the legs should be placed near the central line of the sides and extend all the way down.

The edge, when the cloth is attached to the sides, may be trimmed with any suitable kind of fringe or border, and the sides and ends may be stained or painted, as desired.

1 have shown the frame as supported upon legs; but it is not necessarily confined to this form of support. It may be suspended by ropes at the four corners and used as a ham- It will not, when thus susmock as well.

pended, collapse or turn over. As a bed it has the utmost elasticity and ease and does not require a mattress. It may therefore be used with comfort in summer, when such cotbeds are more frequently used.

Although I have shown it as portable, its use is not so limited. It may be, without departing from the spirit of the invention, used in sleeping-cars, steamers, and other watercraft by fixing one side to the wall and moving the other or free side in or out, and supporting to the ceiling, or supporting it on ledges or brackets at the ends.

I am aware that cot-beds have been known with hinged ends and collapsible, and I do not claim broadly such construction.

hat I claim is 1. A frame for cot-beds and the like, consisting of spring side pieces formed of elastic board set on edge, end pieces adapted to hold said side pieces in vertical position, and a cloth or .flexible covering attached to the upper edge of said side pieces, as set forth.

2. The side frames, A A, formed of elastic boards set on edge, hinged end pieces, a a, and covering of cloth or other flexible material attached to the edge of the side frames, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination ofthe side pieces, A A, formed of boards set on edge, end pieces adapted to extend said side pieces, flexible covering attached to the upper edge of said side pieces, and the removable legs adapted to the cleats 011 the outside, as set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MELVIN B. CHURCH.

Witnesses F. L. MIDDLEToN, I). H. MEAD. 

